Atlantic Mackerel

(Scomber scombrus)

Mackerel

1. What is it?

Atlantic Mackerel (Scomber scombrus) are small pelagic fish that form large schools near the ocean surface with a relatively long life span (17 years) making them moderately vulnerable to high fishing pressures. Stocks are considered to be fished at sustainable levels. Atlantic mackerel are listed as Least Concern on IUCN’s red list of threatened species.

2. How was it caught or farmed?

Purse seine

Atlantic mackerel is caught using purse-seine nets that are set around a school of fish in the surface to mid-water. Once the school is surrounded, the bottom of the net is closed by a footrope. Bycatch is considered to be low as purse seine nets target schools of fish. Discards are also considered to be low. Catches of juvenile Atlantic mackerel are thought to be quite high. There is no known damage to the benthic habitats.

Mid-water trawl

Atlantic Mackerel are caught using mid-water trawls. These nets are very large with a minimum mesh size of 75 mm when stretched to maximum size. Trawling takes place in the zone between the seabed and surface of the sea, and the net is dragged through the water without touching the seabed. As a result, there is very little impact on the benthic habitat or species other than the occasional bottom contact. Mid-water trawls tend to target large schools of fish of the same species so bycatch tends to be relatively small, although the proportion of bycatch discarded is currently unknown. In addition, catches of juvenile Atlantic mackerel are thought to be quite high.

3. Where is it from?

Purse seine

Atlantic Mackerel are fished primarily in the north eastern waters of the Atlantic Ocean ( FAO 27 ) and imported to South Africa. The fishery is managed under the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) enacted by the European Union. A management plan was agreed on in 2008 and tentatively approved by the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) pending further evaluation. For a number of years there were challenges around establishing an international Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for the region; a TAC was finally on for the 2014 and 2015 fishing season. As a result, management is considered to be largely effective.

Mid-water trawl

Atlantic Mackerel are fished primarily in the north eastern waters of the Atlantic Ocean ( FAO 27 ). The fishery is managed by under the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) enacted by the European Union. A management plan was agreed on in 2008 and tentatively approved by the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) pending further evaluation. For a number of years there were challenges around establishing a Total Allowable Catch (TAC) limit for the region; a TAC was finally agreed on for the 2014 and 2015 fishing season. Although managed under a similar plan to the purse seine fishery, management is considered partly effective due to uncertainties regarding the proportion of discards and efforts to address this problem.

Mid-water trawl and purse seine, Imported

Trawl nets are dragged through the water between the seabed and the sea surface without touching the bottom. As such there is little impact on the bottom habitat and its species. Mid-water trawls generally aim to catch large schools of a single fish so the incidental bycatch tends to be low.
Purse-seine nets are set around a school of fish at the ocean surface or in the mid-water. Once the fish are surrounded, the bottom of the net is closed by a footrope. Incidental bycatch of non-target species can be an issue and typically makes up 5% to 30% of the catch. Purse seine nets have little impact on bottom habitats.

About SASSI

Started in 2004, SASSI was established to drive change in the local seafood industry by working with suppliers and sellers of seafood, as well as informing and inspiring consumers to make sustainable seafood choices.